Reel spinning slot machine with superimposed video image

ABSTRACT

A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to reel spinning slotmachines and, more particularly, to a reel spinning slot machine with avideo image superimposed upon the mechanical reels of the machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A reel spinning slot machine generally comprises a plurality ofmechanical rotatable reels controlled by a processor. In response to awager, the processor randomly selects an outcome from a plurality ofpossible outcomes and then causes the reels to be rotated and stopped todisplay the selected outcome. The selected outcome is represented bycertain symbols on the reels being in visual association with a displayarea. If the selected outcome corresponds to a winning outcomeidentified on a pay table, the processor instructs a payoff mechanism toaward a payoff for that winning outcome to the player in the form ofcoins or credits.

[0003] Heretofore, the display area of reel spinning slot machines hasbeen fairly mundane. Any proposals for changing the appearance of thedisplay area have been fairly minor and limited in capability. Forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,642 to Bennett, reel symbols are coloredby backlighting the symbols with colored light bulbs or similar means.In U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,115 to Griswold et al., the reels themselvescontain electroluminescent elements that define one or more reelsymbols, such as cherries, bars, a number “7,” etc. If multipleelectroluminescent elements are provided for a particular symbol, thatsymbol may be displayed in multiple formats. Although the aboveproposals change the appearance of the display area to some extent, aneed exists for a spinning reel slot machine with a structure capable ofeffecting more extravagant changes to the appearance of the displayarea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, a spinning reel slot machine comprises a pluralityof mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to awager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols onthe reels in visual association with a display area. The video displayprovides a video image superimposed on the reels. The video image may beinteractive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, apay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematicscenery, and instructional information. The present invention isadvantageous in that it is capable of effecting extravagant changes tothe appearance of the display area and displaying the graphics withinthe player's focus (i.e., the mechanical reels).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following detailed description and uponreference to the drawings.

[0006]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a spinning reel slot machineembodying the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2a is a side view of the slot machine with portions brokenaway to reveal internal structure in accordance with a first embodimentof the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2b is a side view of the slot machine with portions brokenaway to reveal internal structure in accordance with a second embodimentof the present invention.

[0009]FIGS. 3 through 10a-c are front views of a display area of theslot machine with various video images superimposed on the mechanicalreels.

[0010]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system suitable foroperating the slot machine.

[0011] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, aspinning reel slot machine 10 comprises a plurality of mechanicalrotatable reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c and a video display (see FIGS. 2a and 2b). In response to a wager, the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c are rotated andstopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual associationwith a display area 16. Payouts are awarded based on combinations andarrangements of the symbols appearing in the display area 16. The videodisplay provides a video image 18 occupying the display area 16 andsuperimposed on the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c.

[0013] The video image 18 may be interactive with the reels 12 a, 12 b,12 c, may be static or dynamic, and may include such graphics as payoutvalues, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects,thematic scenery, and instructional information. In the illustratedembodiment, the slot machine 10 is an “upright” version in which thedisplay area 16 is oriented vertically relative to the player.Alternatively, the slot machine 10 may be a “slant-top” version in whichthe display area 16 is slanted at about a thirty degree angle toward theplayer of the slot machine 10.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2 b, the video image 18 in the displayarea 16 may be to either a direct image (FIG. 2a) or a virtual image(FIG. 2b). If the video image 18 is a direct image, as in FIG. 2a, thedirect image is preferably generated by a flat panel transmissive videodisplay 14 a positioned in front of the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. Thetransmissive display 14 a may, for example, be a transmissive liquidcrystal display (LCD) commercially available from LG Phillips LCD Co.,Ltd., of Seoul, Korea. The transmissive display 14 a may be outfittedwith a touch screen mounted to a front surface of the display 14 a. Thetouch screen contains soft touch keys denoted by the image on theunderlying display 14 a and used to operate the slot machine 10.

[0015] If the video image 18 is a virtual image, as in FIG. 2b, thevirtual image is preferably generated by a projection arrangementincluding a video display 14 b and a partially reflective mirror 20. Thevideo display 14 b and the partially reflective mirror 20 are relativelypositioned to project the virtual image in front of the reels 12 a, 12b, 12 c between the reels and a player. The video display 14 b ispreferably mounted below the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c and is generallyperpendicular to the display area 16. The mirror 20 is preferablymounted in front of the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c and is oriented atapproximately a forty-five degree angle relative to both the videodisplay 14 b and the display area 16. The virtual image is generallyparallel to the display area 16 and may, in fact, occupy the displayarea 16. Also, the virtual image may be three-dimensional. In theembodiment of FIG. 2b, the display area 16 includes a glasscover/window. This cover is optionally outfitted with a touch screenthat contains soft touch keys denoted by the virtual image and used tooperate the slot machine 10.

[0016] The video display 14 b in FIG. 2b may be a CRT, LCD, dot matrix,LED, electro-luminescent, or other type of video display known in theart. Also, instead of mounting the video display 14 b below the reels 12a, 12 b, 12 c, the display 14 b may be mounted above the reels with themirror 20 still oriented at approximately a forty-five degree anglerelative to both the video display 14 b and the display area 16.

[0017] Referring back to FIG. 1, the slot machine 10 is operable to playa basic slot game with the three mechanical spinning reels 12 a, 12 b,12 c and a bonus game triggered by a start-bonus outcome in the basicgame. The number of mechanical reels may vary, for example, to includeone or more additional reels. The mechanical reels may be mounted to ahorizontal axis to spin vertically as shown or may, alternatively, bemounted to a vertical axis to spin horizontally. Also, instead of eachcolumn of symbols being associated with a single reel, each individualsymbol may associated with a single reel such that a symbol array ofnine symbols is associated with nine distinct reels. Each of five paylines 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e extends through one symbol on each ofthe three mechanical reels. The number of pay lines may be more or lessthan five and may have various configurations.

[0018] Generally, game play is initiated by inserting a number of coinsor playing a number of credits, causing a central processing unit toactivate a number of pay lines corresponding to the number of coins orcredits played. As shown in FIG. 3, the superimposed video image 18 maydepict instructional information prompting the player to insert coins orplay credits. The player selects the number of pay lines (between oneand five) to play by pressing a “Select Lines” key on a button panel 24.The player then chooses the number of coins or credits to bet on theselected pay lines by pressing a “Bet Per Line” key on the button panel24. As shown in FIG. 4, the superimposed video image 18 may depict theactivated pay lines and the number of wagered credits per pay line.

[0019] After activation of the pay lines, the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c maybe set in motion by touching a “Spin Reels” key on the button panel 24or, if the player wishes to bet the maximum amount per line, by using a“Max Bet Spin” key on the button panel 24. Alternatively, othermechanisms such as, for example, a lever may be used to set the reels inmotion. The central processing unit uses a random number generator toselect a game outcome (e.g., “basic” game outcome) corresponding to aparticular set of reel “stop positions.” The central processing unitthen causes each of the mechanical reels to stop at the appropriate stopposition. Symbols are printed on the reels to graphically illustrate thereel stop positions and indicate whether the stop positions of the reelsrepresent a winning game outcome.

[0020] Winning basic game outcomes (e.g., symbol combinations resultingin payment of coins or credits) are identifiable to the player by a paytable. As shown in FIG. 5, the superimposed video image 18 may depictthe pay table in response to a command by the player (e.g., by pressinga “Pay Table” key on the button panel 24). A winning s basic gameoutcome occurs when the symbols appearing on the reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 calong an active pay line correspond to one of the winning combinationson the pay table. A winning combination, for example, could be threematching symbols along an active pay line. If the displayed symbols stopin a winning combination, the game credits the player an amountcorresponding to the award in the pay table for that combinationmultiplied by the amount of credits bet on the winning pay line. Asshown in FIG. 6, the superimposed video image 18 may highlight thewinning combination(s) (e.g., “7,” “7,” “7”) and its associated pay line(e.g., pay line 22 c) and depict the award for that winning combination.The video image 18 may further include special effects such as flashingthe winning pay line(s) and/or the award and providing explosions. Thewinning pay line(s) may flash, be accompanied by exploding flashes, anddisplay a portion of the pay table. The player may collect the amount ofaccumulated credits by pressing a “Collect” key on the button panel 24.In one implementation, the winning combinations start from the firstreel 12 a (left to right) and span adjacent reels. In an alternativeimplementation, the winning combinations start from either the firstreel 12 a (left to right) or the third reel 12 c (right to left) andspan adjacent reels.

[0021] If the display area 16 includes a touch screen mounted to eitherthe transmissive display 14 a in the direct image embodiment of FIG. 2aor the glass cover in the virtual image embodiment of FIG. 2b, the videoimage 18 may duplicate some or all of the aforementioned keys on thebutton panel 24 as touch keys 26 as shown in various Figures. A playercan then enable a desired function either by touching the touch screenat an appropriate touch key 26 denoted by the video image 18 or bypressing an appropriate key on the button panel 24.

[0022] Included among the plurality of basic game outcomes is astart-bonus outcome for triggering play of a bonus game. A start-bonusoutcome may be defined in a number of ways. For example, a start-bonusoutcome may occur when a special start-bonus symbol or a specialcombination of symbols appears on one or more of the reels 12 a, 12 b,12 c. The start-bonus outcome may require the combination of symbols toappear along an active pay line or may, alternatively, require that thecombination of symbols appear anywhere on the display, regardless ofwhether the symbols are along an active pay line. The appearance of astart-bonus outcome causes the central processing unit to shiftoperation from the basic slot game to the bonus game.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7, the video image 18 may depict the bonus gameand any bonuses resulting therefrom. The bonus game may, for example,include free spins of a new set of video reels included in the videoimage 18. Winning combinations on the video reels may be defined by thesame pay table as used for the mechanical reels or a different pay tablealtogether. The bonus game may be interactive and require a player toselect one or more selectable elements 28 to earn bonuses. Also, thebonus game may depict one or more animated events and award bonusesbased on an outcome of the animated events. Furthermore, the bonus gamemay be depicted by the video image 18 alone or in conjunction with avideo image depicted on an optional secondary video display 40 (see FIG.1). The two video images may be linked to appear like one unified image.Upon completion of the bonus game, the central processing unit shiftsoperation back to the basic slot game.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 8a-c, 9 a-c, and 10 a-c, the video image 18 maybe used to modify one or more symbols printed on one or more of thestopped mechanical reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. For example, in response to apredetermined random or non-random event, the video image 18 maytransform a reel symbol into a different symbol, such as a symbol neededto complete a winning combination. The different symbol is generated bythe video image 18. In FIGS. 8a-c, the video image 18 depicts ananimation transforming (e.g., “morphing”) a blank symbol on mechanicalreel 12 b into a BELL symbol to form a winning combination of three BELLsymbols along pay line 22 c. In addition, referring to FIGS. 9a-c, inresponse to a predetermined random or non-random event, the video image18 may depict an animation in which a video indicator 29 is moved from aperiphery of the display area (e.g., a corner of the display area awayfrom the mechanical reels) to one or more of the symbols on the reels.The moving indicator 29 may identify the reel symbols to which it movesas a special symbol to be evaluated as, for example, a wild symbol or ascatter pay symbol. In FIGS. 10a-c, a video indicator 29 has moved to aCHERRY symbol on mechanical reel 12 c. If the CHERRY symbol is therebydesignated a wild symbol, the displayed symbol array includes a winningcombination of three MELON symbols along pay line 22 c where one of thethree MELON symbols is formed by the wild symbol. Further, in FIGS.10a-c, the video image 18 depicts an animation transforming a BELLsymbol on reel 12 c into a SEVEN symbol to form a winning combination ofthree SEVEN symbols along pay line 22 c. The replacement SEVEN symbolgenerated by the video image 18 is sufficiently opaque or translucent tosubstantially cover the BELL symbol printed on mechanical reel 12 c.

[0025] The slot machine is preferably designed to adjust the appearanceof the video image 18 in terms of transparency, translucency, or opacitydepending on the purpose of the video image 18. On the one hand, topermit clear viewing of the mechanical reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c underlyingthe video image 18, the portion of the video image 18 directly overlyingthe reels is made more transparent.

[0026] On the other hand, to facilitate viewing of the video image 18without visual interference from the underlying mechanical reels, thevideo image 18 is made more opaque through proper selection of colorsand their level of brightness. Also, to accentuate the video image 18relative to the underlying reels following a reel spin, any lampsilluminating the reels during a reel spin may be turned off or dimmedfollowing the reel spin. In addition, if the reels include blank symbols(e.g., solid white areas), any video graphics over such blank symbolswill be readily visible. Similarly, any video graphics alongside, justabove, or just below the underlying reels will be readily visible.Further, in the direct image embodiment of FIG. 2a, the transmissivevideo display 14 a may be backed by an extendable opaque shade duringthe bonus game. The shade is retracted from the display area 16 duringthe basic slot game. When the central processing unit shifts operationfrom the basic slot game to the bonus game, the shade extends throughthe display area to separate the transmissive video display 14 a fromthe underlying reels and thereby completely shield the underlying reels.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system suitable foroperating the slot machine. The control system includes a centralprocessing unit with a microcontroller 30 and system memory 32. Thememory 32 preferably comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) andbattery-backed random-access memory (RAM). It will be appreciated,however, that the system memory 32 may be implemented on any of severalalternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a singlememory structure. For example, the read-only memory may be replaced orsupplemented with a mass storage unit such as a removable flash memoryor a hard drive. The system memory is used to store game-related dataassociated with the chance games played on the slot machine. Thegame-related data may, for example, include game code, math tables, arandom number generator, audio resources, and video resources. Theplayer may select an amount to wager and other game play functions viathe touch screen keys 26 (if provided) or button panel 24. The wageramount is signaled to the microcontroller 30 by a coin/credit detector34. In response to the wager, the microcontroller 30 executes the gamecode which, based on a randomly selected outcome, rotates and stops themechanical reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c at the selected outcome. Also, themicrocontroller 30 selectively accesses the video resources to beincluded in the video image 18 provided by the video display 14 a (FIG.2a) or 14 b (FIG. 2b) and the audio resources to be played through oneor more audio speakers 36 mounted to a housing of the slot machine. Ifthe outcome corresponds to a winning outcome identified on the paytable, the microcontroller 30 instructs a payoff mechanism 38 to award apayoff for that winning outcome to the player in the form of coins orcredits.

[0028] While the present invention has been described with reference toone or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art willrecognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, instead ofthe video image 18 depicting a bonus game triggered by a start-bonusoutcome on the mechanical slot reels 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, the roles of thevideo image 18 and the slot reels may be reversed. The video image 18may depict a basic game including a start-bonus outcome for triggering abonus game involving spins of the slot reels. Each of these embodimentsand obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within thespirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spinning reel slot machine, comprising: aplurality of mechanical rotatable reels that, in response to a wager,are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visualassociation with a display area; and a video display providing a videoimage superimposed upon the reels.
 2. The slot machine of claim 1,wherein the video display is a flat panel transmissive displaypositioned in front of the reels.
 3. The slot machine of claim 2,wherein the transmissive display is a liquid crystal display.
 4. Theslot machine of claim 2, further including a touch screen mounted to thetransmissive display.
 5. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein the videoimage is a virtual image.
 6. The slot machine of claim 1, furtherincluding a partially reflective mirror overlaying one or more of thereels, the video display and the partially reflective mirror beingrelatively positioned to project the virtual image in front of the reelsbetween the reels and a player.
 7. The slot machine of claim 5, whereinthe virtual image is a three-dimensional image.
 8. The slot machine ofclaim 5, wherein the virtual image is generally parallel to the displayarea.
 9. The slot machine of claim 6, wherein the virtual image appearsto be suspended in front of the reels and is generally perpendicular toa front surface of the video display, and wherein the partiallyreflective mirror is generally angled relative to both the virtual imageand the front surface of the video display.
 10. The slot machine ofclaim 1, wherein the video image is interactive with the reels.
 11. Theslot machine of claim 1, wherein the video image includes graphicsselected from a group consisting of payout values, a pay table, paylines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, andinstructional information.
 12. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein thevideo image includes a bonus game feature triggered by a start-bonusoutcome of one or more of the symbols on the stopped reels.
 13. The slotmachine of claim 1, wherein the video image is adjustable in terms ofopacity, translucency, and transparency.
 14. A spinning reel slotmachine, comprising: a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels that, inresponse to a wager, are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbolson the reels in visual association with a display area; and atransmissive video display positioned in front of the reels anddisplaying a video image superimposed upon the reels.
 15. The slotmachine of claim 14, wherein the transmissive video display is a liquidcrystal display.
 16. The slot machine of claim 14, further including atouch screen mounted to the transmissive video display.
 17. The slotmachine of claim 14, wherein the video image is interactive with thereels.
 18. The slot machine of claim 14, wherein the video imageincludes graphics selected from a group consisting of payout values, apay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematicscenery, and instructional information.
 19. The slot machine of claim14, wherein the video image includes a bonus game feature triggered by astart-bonus outcome of one or more of the symbols on the stopped reels.20. The slot machine of claim 14, wherein the video image is adjustablein terms of opacity, translucency, and transparency.
 21. A method ofoperating a spinning reel slot machine, comprising: receiving a wager;rotating and stopping a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels torandomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a displayarea; and superimposing upon the reels a video image provided by a videodisplay.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the video image is avirtual image.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the virtual image isa three-dimensional image.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein thevirtual image is generally parallel to the display area.
 25. The methodof claim 21, wherein the video image is interactive with the reels. 26.The method of claim 21, wherein the video image includes graphicsselected from a group consisting of payout values, a pay table, paylines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, andinstructional information.
 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the videoimage includes a bonus game feature triggered by a start-bonus outcomeof one or more of the symbols on the stopped reels.
 28. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the video image is adjustable in terms of opacity,translucency, and transparency.